Why Outdoor Sessions Saved My Love for Photography

Moving Out of the Studio Didn't Just Change My Work — It Changed How I See Light, Life, and My Craft

I think it's connected to my deep love for culture and heritage. Moving outdoors made me fall in love with this city again — exploring it as if I just moved here. The environment informs my creativity. It really sparks this new desire to showcase families and people within it. It's anchored in seeing beauty in every corner, in the desire to explore the streets of Hong Kong, or wherever I am. There's an excitement attached to that.

Why I Opened a Studio in the First Place

When I opened the studio years ago, I'm not going to lie — I was not confident in my technical skills. That's why I opened it. I didn't know what to do with whatever light Hong Kong gives me. The unpredictability of that could throw me off. To be fair, I was a very new photographer. I just didn't know what to do with it.

But now, as I've learned more and gained more experience, leaning towards the light — trying to see it in different ways, in different places — has definitely helped shift my creativity. Being able to see things that not everyone else could see is also something that changed my approach. I just have more fun with it. More fun with the light, more fun with the environment.

While I definitely loved my studio — that was my baby — it could also be monotonous because it's just one space. The shifting scenery outside keeps every session so much more different and dynamic. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm going to get. And that's also something that has enriched my outdoor sessions.

What's Actually Bringing the Joy Back

I'm doing a mentorship with someone amazing — her name is Ude. And one of the things she told me was: just pick up your phone. It doesn't have to be anything. Don't edit it. Just observe what gives you joy as you go about your routine. Whenever I'm out, or even at home, I just take photos of things that give me joy. It's been helping me see things and find beauty wherever I am.

I'm also doing another mentorship — for writing. I find that while writing is completely different, it has informed my creativity and artistry. And on a personal level, with my own healing, it has brought me so much.

I've been working with Yan Palmer — not for photography, but for writing. She has pushed and pushed me, even when I resisted, because it's hard. Writing is harder than photography, I think, because it's so transparent. When someone reads it, it's basically your soul. With a photo, it can be interpreted however the viewer wants — but writing is just so personal. Doing different things has definitely brought so much joy back to my artistry.

Never Say Never

Do I still see myself going back to a studio? You know, never say never. I could always open another one. That's the beauty of it — nothing is set in stone. I can always change it, and that's what creativity is. It's whatever speaks to you in the moment.

Every setting and every environment has its own magic to give — to a client, to the artist, to whoever's doing the work.

I'm very, very happy that I can shoot anywhere I want to. After how many years of doing this, I'm confident that I can create something beautiful regardless of the location.